Makarska: 3 Island Speedboat Tour with Little Blue Cave & Lagoon

The best part of this Makarska boat trip is its variety. In about five hours, you cross to three islands, swim in clear bays, enter a small sea cave, pause in Jelsa, and still have time for a lagoon stop. Skippers such as Petar, Ante, and Carlo keep the outing personal rather than turning it into a floating crowd.

I like the small maximum group of 13 and the fact that snorkeling gear and bottled water are included. I also like the morning option: the sea is often calmer then, which matters when you want to reach the cave. The main drawback is that the cave visit depends on waves, and some people may find one hour in Jelsa too long or the stops too brief.

At a glance

• Swim into the Little Blue Cave: The boat anchors outside, and you can use provided snorkeling equipment to swim inside when conditions are safe.
• Visit three islands in one outing: The route includes Hvar, tiny Zečevo, and Brač, with several different swimming spots.
• Keep the group small: A maximum of 13 people makes it easier to hear the skipper and move around the boat.
• Enjoy an hour in Jelsa: You have time for coffee, ice cream, and a short walk through one of Hvar’s better-known coastal towns.
• Bring your own lunch: Food and drinks are not included, though bottled water is supplied.
• Plan around the weather: The boat needs good sea conditions, and poor weather can lead to a new date or full refund.

Why this five-hour island tour works

I like this trip because it makes good use of a half-day. You are not spending the whole outing on one beach, waiting for a long lunch, or riding from port to port with little to do. Instead, the schedule shifts between swimming, a small town, and scenic coves.

The route also gives you a useful sample of the islands near Makarska. Hvar provides the main scenery and Jelsa’s town life. Zečevo offers a very small island and a turquoise bay. Brač finishes the day with a quieter stop at Žirje Beach.

That variety comes with a tradeoff. The itinerary is active and fairly brisk. The listed stops add up to about two and a half hours, so the remaining time is used for speedboat travel between places. That is part of the fun, but you should not expect long, lazy beach time at every stop.

The boat carries no more than 13 people. That is a meaningful advantage over a large excursion boat, especially when the skipper explains the route or hands out snorkeling equipment. The experience is offered in English, and the boat, fuel, taxes, fees, water, skipper, and snorkeling equipment are included in the price.

At $108.61 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning or afternoon on the Adriatic. I think the price makes sense if you value the speedboat, several island stops, a small group, and a skipper who handles the route. It is less appealing if you mainly want one beach and plenty of time to sit still.

Pokrivenik Bay: your first swim on Hvar

The first stop is Pokrivenik, a bay on Hvar’s northern coast. The boat anchors in the bay, giving you about 25 minutes to swim and snorkel in clear water.

This is a good opening stop because it gets you into the sea quickly. You do not have to wait for a long introduction or town visit before enjoying the main attraction. Bring a swimsuit under your clothes if possible, since the schedule is built around getting wet.

Pokrivenik is also a useful test of the sea conditions. If the water feels choppy here, you will have a better idea of how comfortable you may be at the cave. The stop is short, so I would not treat it as a full beach visit. Think of it as a first swim in a scenic bay.

The snorkeling equipment is included, which saves you from packing your own mask and fins. Still, bring a towel, sunscreen, and a secure bag for anything that should not get wet. Those items are not listed among the inclusions.

The Little Blue Cave: beautiful, but weather dependent

A few minutes from Pokrivenik is the Little Blue Cave. The boat anchors outside, and you can swim inside with snorkeling equipment. There are no entrance fees or queues, which keeps this stop simple.

The cave is the trip’s most distinctive feature. Light reflecting through the sea gives the water its blue color, and entering by swimming makes the visit feel more active than simply viewing a cave from a boat. You have about 20 minutes here, so the experience is short but memorable when the sea is calm.

This is also the point where you need realistic expectations. The skipper may limit access if waves make the swim unsafe. One booking experience specifically noted that the cave was difficult to reach because of rough water, and the operator makes clear that safety comes first. If entering the cave is your main reason for booking, understand that it is not guaranteed in every condition.

I would choose the morning departure when possible. One guest specifically recommended it because the wind and sea are usually calmer earlier in the day, and the operator agreed that mornings tend to be better. Weather is not a minor detail here. The whole activity requires good conditions, and a cancellation caused by poor weather brings a choice of another date or a full refund.

Jelsa: an hour for coffee and a change of pace

After the swimming stops, the boat heads to Jelsa, a town on Hvar’s northern side. You get one hour here, enough for coffee, ice cream, and a walk through the town rather than a rushed photo stop.

Jelsa provides a useful break from the boat. After swimming and riding at speed, you can dry off, stretch your legs, and see a settled coastal town. The ice cream stop has become a favorite part of the outing for some people, and it is an easy way to use the hour without turning the tour into a formal sightseeing visit.

Jelsa is described as receiving more than 5,000 visitors daily, so do not expect a deserted village. Its appeal is more practical than dramatic on this tour: you get a glimpse of island life, a drink or snack, and a pause between water stops.

Still, Jelsa is the itinerary’s most divisive stop. One person found it uninteresting, while another enjoyed the village and an ice cream break. I would agree that the town is worth your time if you like cafés and a short walk. If you want every minute spent swimming, the hour may feel long.

Food and drinks are not included in the price. You may bring your own, and Jelsa gives you a chance to buy something if you prefer. Bottled water is included, but do not count on a provided lunch.

Zečevo and the Blue Lagoon

The second island is Zečevo, a very small island measuring about 1.5 kilometers long and only 200 meters wide at its narrowest point. Its main attraction is the turquoise water in the bay, often called the Blue Lagoon.

This stop lasts about 25 minutes. You can swim, enjoy the color of the water, and take in the unusual feeling of stopping at such a tiny island. The waterfront Bungalow Bar adds a simple refreshment option, though the tour price does not include food or drinks.

Zečevo gives the route a different mood from Pokrivenik and the cave. Pokrivenik is a bay on a large island, while Zečevo feels compact and exposed, with the water doing most of the work. The stop is best for a quick swim rather than a long walk or organized activity.

The short timing is worth noting. If you are happiest in the water, 25 minutes goes quickly once the boat anchors and equipment is sorted. If you prefer to stay dry, there is not much scheduled sightseeing here. This is a swimming stop first.

Žirje Beach on Brač: a quiet final bay

The last island stop takes you to Brač and the hidden bay of Žirje Beach. You get about 20 minutes to swim in tranquil turquoise water surrounded by natural scenery.

This final stop is meant to feel quieter than the earlier parts of the route. Brač is described as peaceful, and the bay may have only one or two other boats. That can make Žirje a fitting finish after the more structured visit to Jelsa and the lively movement between islands.

Again, the timing is short. I would use the stop for one final swim and a few photos rather than expecting a full beach afternoon. The appeal is the calm setting, not a long list of facilities or activities.

The three island visits also explain why the tour feels efficient. You are not seeing every major attraction on Hvar or Brač. You are sampling small coastal places from the water, with the speedboat making the distances manageable.

Speedboat comfort, skipper style, and group size

The boat is central to the experience. A speedboat lets you cover more water than a slow excursion vessel, and that is why five hours can include Hvar, Zečevo, Brač, a cave, and Jelsa. The ride itself is part of the outing, though anyone sensitive to wind, spray, or motion should keep that in mind.

The group limit of 13 is one of the strongest practical features. You get more room than on a large boat, and it should be easier to ask a question or get help with the snorkeling equipment. It also reduces the chance that every stop feels like a mass arrival.

The English-speaking skippers have received strong praise for being friendly, informative, and attentive. Petar handled questions before one trip, Carlo was credited with taking good care of the group, and Ante was described as a friendly guide. The exact skipper depends on the departure, but the operator’s approach appears to be personal rather than scripted.

Do not expect a private charter. You are still sharing the boat with other people, and the route follows a set schedule. But the small group gives you much of the benefit of a private outing without paying for a boat on your own.

What to bring from Makarska

The meeting point is Palladium Rent a Boat Makarska at Marineta ul. 15 in Makarska. The tour returns to the same place, and the location is near public transportation.

I would arrive ready for the water. Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a way to protect your phone. The operator supplies snorkeling equipment and bottled water, but not meals or other drinks.

Bring a small amount of money or a payment method for Jelsa if you want coffee, ice cream, or another snack. You can also bring your own food, which is useful if you do not want to spend your only town hour looking for something to eat.

A morning departure is the practical choice for sea conditions. The tour can operate in the afternoon, but calmer water may make the boat ride more comfortable and improve your chance of reaching the Little Blue Cave.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want to see several places in limited time, enjoy swimming, and prefer a small boat to a large cruise. It suits couples, families with children who are comfortable around open water, and active visitors who want a half-day outing rather than a full-day commitment.

It is also a good match if you like changing scenery. One moment you are in a Hvar bay, then inside a sea cave, then ordering ice cream in Jelsa, followed by a Blue Lagoon swim and a quiet Brač cove.

I would hesitate to recommend it if you need guaranteed cave access, dislike speedboat rides, or want long stays at one beach. People who prefer a slow town visit may also find the hour in Jelsa too brief, while people focused only on swimming may find the town stop unnecessary.

The free cancellation policy gives you some protection when booking ahead. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted, and the local cut-off time applies.

Should you book the Makarska three-island tour?

Book it if you want a well-packed five hours with three islands, several swims, and a small group. The strongest reasons are the efficient route, included snorkeling gear, friendly English-speaking skippers, and the chance to see the Little Blue Cave without an entrance fee or queue.

Book the morning departure if you can, and treat the cave as weather dependent rather than promised. At $108.61, the tour offers fair value for a speedboat outing that covers this much ground, but it is best for curious, active visitors who enjoy variety more than lingering.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Palladium Rent a Boat Makarska, Marineta ul. 15, 21300 Makarska, Croatia. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts approximately five hours.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route visits Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač. Stops include Pokrivenik and the Little Blue Cave near Hvar, the town of Jelsa, Zečevo’s Blue Lagoon, and Žirje Beach on Brač.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and bottled water are included, along with the boat, English-speaking skipper, fuel, taxes, and fees.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but you may bring your own. You also have time in Jelsa to buy coffee, ice cream, or other refreshments.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.